Chapter 1 - THE WOMAN AT THE DOOR
The woman in the ivory coat stepped inside and closed the door behind her.
She didn't look surprised to see me.
She didn't even look surprised to see Marcus.
Instead, she looked directly at Camille.
“Tell me you didn't sign anything.”
Camille's face turned white.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Evelyn, this isn't—”
“Don't.”
One word.
Quiet.
Sharp.
Marcus stopped.
I looked at the woman.
“Who are you?”
She finally turned toward me.
“My name is Evelyn Hart.”
She opened the black folder.
“And I'm the attorney who has represented your family since before you married Marcus.”
I frowned.
“My family?”
“Your father's family.”
The room seemed to tilt.
“My father died eight years ago.”
“I know.”
Evelyn placed a document on the table.
“That's why he asked me to protect you.”
Marcus suddenly moved toward the folder.
Evelyn pulled it away.
“You shouldn't touch that.”
His jaw tightened.
“You have no right to be here.”
She smiled coldly.
“I have every right.”
She turned toward me.
“Naomi, did Marcus ever tell you that the house you're standing in wasn't purchased with his money?”
I stared at my husband.
Marcus said nothing.
Evelyn continued.
“Your father created a trust for you before he died.”
My heart pounded.
“What kind of trust?”
“The house. Several investment accounts. And a controlling interest in a private property company.”
Camille whispered:
“That isn't possible.”
Evelyn looked at her.
“You should know better than anyone.”
Camille took a step backward.
I looked at the forged document on the coffee table.
“Then why did Marcus need my signature?”
Evelyn opened another file.
“Because the trust has one condition.”
“What condition?”
“You cannot voluntarily transfer the property while you're married.”
My stomach dropped.
Evelyn looked directly at Marcus.
“Unless your husband convinces you to sign away your rights.”
Silence.
Marcus finally spoke.
“You don't understand.”
Evelyn smiled.
“Oh, I understand perfectly.”
She placed another document on the table.
“This is the original deed.”
Then another.
“The trust agreement.”
Then another.
“And this…”
She paused.
“…is the document Marcus didn't know I still had.”
Marcus suddenly looked terrified.
I stared at the page.
It contained a handwritten note from my father.
Only six words.
Never trust the man who rushes you.
My father had written it three months before his death.
I looked at Marcus.
May you like
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
And suddenly, I wondered how long my husband had been planning to destroy me.
